The Gates Mills Gazette
Mrs. Tammi L. Bender, Principal
February 15, 2019
Gates Mills Elementary School
Website: http://www.mayfieldschools.org/gatesmillselementary_home.aspx
Location: 7639 Colvin Road, Gates Mills, OH, United States
Phone: 440-995-7500
Facebook: Facebook.com/gatesmillselementaryschool
Twitter: @mrstammibender
Thank You
The Gates Mills PTC Annual Valentine's Pancake Breakfast was a huge success and enjoyed by many!! Tina Iacampo, Lindsay Steinbrink and the committee did a great job planning for this event. Special thanks to Officer Arch and Chris Papouras for making the pancakes. We love the continued tradition.
Also, thanks to the PTC for organizing the activities during the classroom parties. Racquel Henderson did a great job with creating the stuffed pillow heart pillow craft for all the classrooms!
PTC Newsflash
Our next PTC meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 6th, at 6:30pm in the Idea Lab (school library). Please note that the February meeting is cancelled.
Ohio's State BOE Award
Mr. D's SE Skills Guidance Updates
I had the opportunity to work with all grade levels this week at Gates Mills. Here is what the kids worked on. . .
Grades 4 & 5: The students and I took some time to do another Making the Connections lesson. This time, the lesson focused on Cooperation. We discussed what it means to be cooperative, and the students worked in small groups to discuss four questions and write down what it means to be cooperative and how to cooperate with others. Following this small group work, we discussed their responses.
Grades 2 & 3: In these two classrooms, we continued our work on Friendships and the good qualities that help individuals make friends, keep friends, and get along nicely with others. This lesson focused on Verbal Communication and what the students can say to others. We discussed how friendly phrases, questions, and compliments can promote and strengthen friendships. The students and I ended doing an activity where they came up with their own friendly phrases, questions, and compliments.
Grade 1: The students and I reviewed from last time the story “The Turtle Story” as well as practiced the Turtle Technique (which teaches the students go into their “shells” [cross their arms over their chest], say stop to themselves, take deep breaths, and tell the other person what they did and how it made them feel). We then spent the remainder of the lesson discussing with pictures situations and scenarios where it would be appropriate and helpful to use the Turtle Technique.
Kindergarten: We reviewed from last time the feeling of mad and the story “Twiggle Learns to do Turtle”, which taught the students the Turtle Technique (which teaches the students go into their “shells” [cross their arms over their chest], say stop to themselves, take deep breaths, and tell the other person what they did and how it made them feel). For the remainder of the lesson, the students created their own Turtle Books which had pictures showing the kids each step of the Turtle Technique.
If you ever have questions about one of my lessons, please feel free to email me at cdimarino@mayfieldschools.org or call me at (440) 995-7427.
Inside the Idea Lab with Mrs. Stephens
This week our Idea Lab got new carpet. It looks great! The lighter gray creates clean lines and makes our room look more spacious than ever. The second, third, fourth, and fifth graders tested it out on Valentine’s Day by doing small group read-alouds. Students made groups of two to four people and read aloud to each other from our March Book Madness selections for 2019. At the end of class we discussed our favorite stories and why we liked them. Kindergarteners got to spread out on the new carpet and lay down for their story time. First grade missed Idea Lab due to the Valentine’s Day party, so they will be visiting Idea Lab next Tuesday. Have a wonderful long weekend and see you next week in Idea Lab!
Orchestra Trip
Idea Lab Update
February is Box Tops for Education Collection Month
Parents, raid your kitchen junk drawers for those valuable little cardboard squares and send them in. The little coupons can be found on Kleenex, General Mills products, Ziploc bags and other products you probably buy already. Simply cut them off the box, trim them neatly and have your child bring them to school in a Ziploc bag. Please send them in by Friday, February 22nd. The collection bin is in the office. Also, please make sure the dates are not expired.
Shoe Donations Needed
It's Cold Weather Time
Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately to participate in outdoor recess (i.e., coat, hat, gloves, boots, snow pants, etc.). As stated in the handbook: All students are expected to go outside unless the temperature is below 20 degrees or the wind chill is below 10 degrees. Generally, if a child is able to ride the bus and attend school, (s)he should also be able to go outside at recess. The only exceptions are: a physician’s request, a written parent request for the day the child returns to school following an illness, or a request by the teacher or Principal.
School Fees
Important Links
Attendance Matters: House Bill 410
School Website: Gates Mills Elementary
Drop Off & Dismissal Procedures
District Parent Mentor Information
School Lunch Information: Food Services
Mayfield City Schools App: Visit the App Store to download for Android or Apple device.
Dates to Remember
February 18: President's Day - NO SCHOOL
March 7: Holden to GM for grades 3 - 5
March 8: End of Third Quarter
March 11: Teacher Work Day - NO CLASSES
March 15: Vocal Dimensions, 11am / Gr. 4 & 5 to GM Library / GM Movie Night, 6-8pm, gym
March 20: Gr. 5 to Natural History Museum, 9:15am - 2pm
March 25 - 29: Spring Break
April 1: Classes Resume